TYPHOID FEVER IN INDIA, There is

tendency to solve the difficulties connected with the explanation of the prevalence of typhoid fever among Europeans in India by a

referring the causation of the disease to climate. undoubtedly a very convenient and attractive hypothesis that the large and increasing mortality from typhoid fever among European

It is

soldiers is due to this is

cause.

delightfully simple, it

The

is able to

explanation

cover a

multi-

tude of sins of omission and commission of a sanitary nature, avoids an immense deal of trouble in the way of inquiry and investigation, and probably saves a good deal of time and expense. The theory therefore has many ad-

vantages in its favour, and is a splendid pivot inaction, because, unless some one is prepared to come forward in the capacity of rain-maker, or in the wider sphere of general regulator of the weather, action of any kind is a waste of energy. The only agencies likely to be brought to for

bear

on

the

statistics and

subject a

from

are

a

bewildering

series of weather

set of

charts,

both

interesting general epidemiological and natural history point of view, but unfortunately affording no protection against the disease. From a pi'eventive point of view to treat the climatic theory seriously would be giving it too much importance, for 'it is not based on observed facts a

and is inconsistent with those which have been observed. Typhoid fever is not peculiar to India

and its climate.

It is to be found in almost

every place to which Europeans have migrated, and in every part of the world thorough

July

THE PLAGUE IN HONGKONG.

1894.]

investigation, when made, has

demonstrated that

whatever favourable effect heat and moisture may exercise on the development of typhoid germs,

as on

other

organisms,

of the disease

spread closely

tions the

sanitary

dependent on condirelated to man's mode of living and conditions under which he is placed;

and until it is shown in not

outbreaks and the

are

a

very conclusive manner the product of a

by suggestive hypothesis,

elaborated in the

lively imagination,

study

or

office, but by careful and repeated inquiry, supported by scientific research, by men specially trained to such inquiry and research, that the laws affecting t}'phoid fever in its relation to man are totally different in India from those which govern it in other countries no one responsible for the health of the European soldiers in India in cantonments or on the march has any justification for attributing the prevalence of

typhoid

fever to climate.

It is with much letter

Dr.

pleasure on

the

Ranking's refers to the water-supply of food-stuffs from

we

publish

subject

in which he

and the

preservation

contamination by

drawing special

germs, sity of

that

typhoid

attention to the

neces-

destroying the contaminating agenc}7 by the adoption of efficacious measures for the disposal of excreta and other sources of infection emanating from the subjects of typhoid; and giving special prominence to the manner of dis-

of the bodies of those who have succumbed to the disease. The role of water in the producfever in towns, tion of and

posal

typhoid

too

villages

basis to be that such is not the statement by any in Northern India. In the French Army

barracks is

a

fact

on

sure

a

affected case

the

mortality from typhoid was by the introduction of

than half

land Filter. the

subject

reduced

more

the Chamber-

It would be interesting to study from this point of view in the

of India. It is not sufficient to supply a barrack with pure water if other supplies of a doubtful purity are at hand and equally easy of access. Wells which have been condemned should certainly be filled up, a procedure which is not always adopted. There are, however, other means by which typhoid fever besides water, and Dr. can i '6

European Army

spread

Ranking's

the infection of the soil and the resistance of the typhoid germs to external influences are most opportune and deserve careful remarks

on

attention.

263

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